Cook Islands look to defence and trade

Press, 27 January 1979, Page 6

Cook Islands look to defence and trade

PA Auckland! The Cook Islands Govern-; ment wanted to commit it-] self to the A.N.Z.U.S. Treaty and relieve New Zealand ofj the Cook Islands defence, its’ premier. Dr Tom Davis said yesterday. It did not intend to have a standing force, but would raise an army if required. It was also involving itself! in external affairs—another: role mainly done for it by New Zealand until now—in the trading area. Already it was reaping the economic benefits of new trade with Western Samoa and American Samoa and would soon add Tahiti, and possibly Fiji, among its trading partners. ! The latest developments] were discussed by Dr Davis! and the Prime Minister (Mr! Muldoon) during a brief un-' announced visit by Dr Davis: to Wellington. Dr Davis, who attended! the Australia and New Zea-! land Association for the! Advancement of Science! Congress in Auckland, will return to Rarotonga today.

The Cook Islands is the only Pacific islands nation which has made a commitment to the A.N.Z.U.S. Treaty.

“In times of an emergency in the Pacific, we would supply forces, as we did in World War I,” said Dr Davis (Cook Islanders had to travel to New Zealand to enlist with New Zealand forces to fight in World War II). Dr Davis said the Cook Islands would commit the deep-water harbour at the northern group island of Penrhyn—“it is big enough

I for a whole fleet "—for use iby A.N.Z.U.S. forces. ! Heavy aircraft of AjM.Z.U.S. forces would also: [be able to use the aerodromes! !on Rarotonga, Auiuaki and Penrhyn. Airstrips and anchorages, at outer islands would be available for smaller craft. “By doing this we feel we would be no less effective in! defending ourselves than New Zealand would be without Australia," said Dr. Davis. “We do not want to be bystanders in an emergency—he said. Dr Davis also explained the Cook Islands’ action in developing new trade with! other Pacific nations. The country was now getting ! cheaper goods — particularly vitally-needed construction materials — and was ex-i porting citrus and other agri-: cultural produce at cheaper: prices to markets other than! New Zealand.

>< It would continue. howew, to trade with New Zealand f, and hoped to expand exports )ilo this country. Dr Davis said. - Dr Davis said he and Mill Muldoon were in agreement I that the trading moves were necessary for the economic > survival of the Cook Islands. Developing the trading pat3 tern would mean extra over--seas exchange assistance i! from New Zealand but would, -in turn, generate the Cook Islands' own sources of -foreign exchange - “Mr Muldoon was most co--operative and sympathetic,” : he said. .! Since trade has been -opened up. the inflation rate -had dropped to 2 per cent -in the last quarter. - Other topics discussed by -the two leaders included the -payment of New Zealand pen- . sions to Cook Islanders who ■ 'had spent a long time in New Zealand, and the con--trol of the Cook Islands fish- ■ eries zone.